Container with an applicator and supporting means for the container



May 25, 1965 N. B. LERNER CONTAINER WITH AN APPLICATOR AND SUPPORTINGMEANS FOR THE CONTAINER Filed June 27, 1962 United States Patent ice3,185,291 CONTAINER AN APPLICATOR AND SUI- PORTING MEANS FOR THECONTAINER Nathan B. Lerner, (Jhicago, IIL, assignor to W. Erauu Company,Chicago, BL, a corporation of Illinois Filed June 27, 1962, Ser. No.205,745 6 Claims. (Cl. 206-155) This invention relates to a containerwith an applicator and supporting means for the container.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a container andapplicator for use in connection with nail polish and the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bottle and applicatorand means for supporting the bottle in a tilted or inclined position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a container and anapplicator wherein the applicator is supported in the container to be incontact with the lowest level of the liquid in the bottle, and whereinthe precipitation of the liquid in the bottle is positioned to one sideof the applicator so that the applicator does not come in contact withthe precipitation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a structure of theforegoing character in which the applicator brush is always maintainedat the immersion level.

Another object of this invention is to provide a structure in which thebrush, while maintained at the full immersion level, does not pick upany precipitation.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for positioning thecontainer at the angle which is most convenient for withdrawing theapplicator and for applying it to the persons fingernails, theinclination of the container being in visual alinement to permit theuser to readily insert the applicator into the container.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this descriptionprogresses.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional view of this invention with the cap inloosened position.

FIGURE 2 is a view taken on lines 22 of FIGURE 1, showing only thesupporting base, and

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the upper position, showing thecap in closed position.

The invention includes a base or supporting member, a bottle, anapplicator, and a cap. The bottle generally indicated at comprises abottom 12 with an inwardly inclined side wall 14 which inclines inwardlyfrom the bottom towards the top, and a neck portion generally indicatedat 16. The bottom of the bottle has an annular upwardly and inwardlyinclined Wall 18. Approximately midway of the height of the body of thebottle the inclined side wall 14 is sharply curved inwardly to providean annular shoulder 20. A tapered sleeve 22 is positioned over the upperhalf of the body portion of the bottle with the lower edge of the sleeveresting on the shoulder 20. The upper inwardly extending flange 24 ofthe sleeve engages the lower end of the neck portion of the bottle. Thesleeve 22 is maintained in a fixed position relative to the body of thebottle.

The neck 16 of the bottle is exteriorly threaded as at 26. The uppermostportion of the neck is provided with an annular flat top outer rim 28which forms the outermost portion of the bottle. Extending inwardly andbelow the top rim is an internal shelf 30 which is provided with acentral opening 32 forming the mouth of the bottle. The central opening32 has an outward taper which is complementary to the taper of the stemof the applicator, presently to be described.

Between the outer rim 28 of the neck and the shelf 30 there is anannular recess 34 to accommodate the ring or Patented May 25, 1965 discon the applicator. An annular bead 36 is formed on the shelf between theinner vertically extending wall of the rim of the neck and the openingof the bottle. The inside wall of the neck portion below the shelf has agenerally bell-shaped configuration generally indicated at 38,terminating in an annular sharp edge 46 at the inner wall of the opening32.

The applicator, generally indicated at 40 comprises a stern portion 42to the lower end of which is secured the bristles in the conventionalmanner. The upper end of the stem tapers outwardly as at 44 and isshaped complementary to the tapered shape of the mouth opening 32.Extending upwardly of the stem is the handle portion 46, and between thestem and handle there is an outwardly extending ring, flange or disc 48.The flange 18 has a certain degree of resiliency. Outwardly beyond thedisc the handle portion is curved or tapered inwardly and then outwardlyto provide a stylus so that same may be easily and conveniently heldwhile in use.

A cap or closure member generally designated at 50 is internallythreaded as at 52 to engage the externally threaded neck 16 of thebottle. The cap 50 has a central enlarged opening 54 to accommodate thehandle 46 and the interior of the cap is provided with an annular ringor head portion 56 extending below the bottom wall 58 of the top of thecap, and a recess 60 is provided between the ring 56 and the inner wallof the cap. When the cap is threadedly engaged with the neck of thebottle, as shown in FIGURE 3, with the applicator therein, theapplicator 40 will be centered in the bottle by virtue of thecomplementary shaped tapering of the stem 44 and opening 32.

The disc or flange 48 of the applicator rests on the annular bead 36 andthe internal ring 56 of the cap engages the top of the flange 48 of theapplicator, with the upper rim 28 of the neck positioned within theannular recess 60 of the cap. With the cap screwed into sealing positiona seal is effected for closing the bottle, as best seen in FIGURE 3. Theresiliency of the flange 48 permits the flange to be compressed betweenthe cap and the annular bead 36. Merely placing the applicator in theposition shown in FIGURE 1, in which the flange 48 of the handle engagesthe bead surface 36 without applying the closure cap will close thebottle against the volatile loss of the liquid. To use the applicator,the cap 59 must be unthreaded from the neck of the bottle and removedfrom the neck.

The supporting base for the bottle is best shown in FIGURES l and 2 andis generally designated by the numeral 6 It is of annular shape andcomprises a bottom wall 66 and an upwardly extending annular wall 68.The upwardly extending annular wall 68 is inclined inwardly on one sideand outwardly on the opposite side and gradually increases in height onthe outwardly sloping side. The outwardly sloping side is indicated bythe numeral 70 and the inwardly sloping side is indicated by the numeral72. The inwardly sloping side 72 terminates just above the bottom wall66 and the opposite outwardly sloping side 70 terminates a substantialdistance above the bottom wall 66, as best seen in FIGURE 1, to providea base which supports the bottle in an inclined or sloping position.

The top or upper rim 74 of the upwardly extending side wall has acontinuous concave-shaped seat 76 and just below the seat is an innerannular recess 78 which is shaped complementary to the inclined bottomwall 18 of the bottle. The bottom of the bottle is seated on theconcave-shaped seat 76 with the tapered outer bottom wall 18 of thebottom of the bottle supported within the recess 78. As best seen inFIGURE 1, the rim portion above the outwardly sloping side 70 isinclined inwardly in the direction toward the opposite sloping side 72.

By virtue of the construction herein, the bottle is positioned at aninclined angle or slope, which is the most convenient angle at which theapplicator can be withdrawn from the bottle and applied to thefinger-nails. It is also in visual alinement so that the user can seehow to insert the applicator into the bottle. The inclination of thebottle also permits the applicator and the brush end thereof to bepositioned closely adjacent the bottom of the bottle and be immersedwithin the liquid contents even when there is a small residue of theliquid left in the bottle. Also, any precipitation in the :liquid whichwould normally settle in the bottom of the bottle is, by virtue of theinclination or tilt of the bottle, directed to the side of the bottleand away from the brush end, thus, the brush does not pick up anyprecipitation which would be characteristically true in connection withbottles which are supported on a horizontal base. The increased diameterof the supporting. base provides the bottle with a greater stability.The bottle is not subjected to being overturned accidentally orotherwise while in position for use.

As the applicator is withdrawn from the bottle with the liquid adheringto the bristles, the brush end of the applicator is moved against theedge 40 at the lower end of opening 32 to squeeze or press out some ofthe surplus liquid on the brush. The annular head 36 on the upperportion of the neck of the bottle provides a sealing ring or an annularpoint contact with the flange 48 of the applicator. Any surplus liquidwhich might drip from the brush andwhich might normally deposit on theshelf 30 would not-be deposited and remain on the annular head 36.- Thisleaves the bead 36 clean at all times for sealing contact with theflange 48.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be madefrom the foregoing without departing from the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a supporting base, a container positioned on saidsupporting base, a cap and an applicator, said supporting base havingmeans for permanently supporting said container at a fixed inclinedangle, said container having an externally threaded neck, an outer rimat the upper end thereof, a recessed portion inwardly of said outer rimand an annular bead inwardly and below said rim, a mouth openinginwardly and below said head, an applicator having a handle and anannular flange which flange rests on said bead with the flange supportedWithin said recess, a cap having internal threads engaging the threadedneck of said container with the cap resting on said flange to securesaid applicator in a position so that said flange seals said bottleopening, said cap having a central opening through which the handle ofthe applicator extends.

2. A structure defined in claim 1 in which the cap is provided with aninner annular ring to engage the flange of the applicator and in whichthe flange is formed of resilient material.

3. A structure defined in claim 1 in which the cap has an inner ringengaging the upper portion of the flange on the applicator.

4. A structure defined in claim 1 in which the bottom of thecontainer'has a tapering portion and the base has a rim shapedcomplementary to the bottom of the container to interlock therewith andto secure said bottle to said base.

5. A structure defined in claim 1 in which the base has an inclinedupper rim and in which the bottom of the container has means engagingthe upper rim so that the container is supported at an inclined angle.

6. In combination, annular supporting base, a container for a liquidpositioned on said supporting base, said container having an inwardlyinclined side wall which inclines inwardly from the bottom towards thetop, said container having an externally threaded neck, a cap havinginternal threads for engagement with said neck, said cap having acentral opening, an applicator having an annular flange resting on saidneck with the handle of the applicator extending through said capopening, said applicator having a brush at the lower end extendingsubstantially to the bottom of said container, said supporting basehaving means permanently supporting said container at a fixed inclinedangle so that the precipitation of the liquid in the container ispositioned to one side of the brush so that said brush does not come incontact with the precipitation, said annular base having an annularbottom-wall and an upwardly extending annular, wall which is inclined toslope inwardly on one side and inclinedto slopeoutwardly onthe oppositeside and gradually increases in height on the outwardly extendingsloping side, with the inwardly sloping side terminating just above thebottom wall and the opposite outwardly sloping side-terminating asubstantial distance above the bottom wall.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Rubens 215-1THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

EARLE J. DRUMMOND, Examiner.

6. IN COMBINATION, ANNULAR SUPPORTING BASE, A CONTAINER FOR A LIQUIDPOSITIONED ON SAID SUPPORTING BASE, SAID CONTAINER HAVING AN INWARDLYINCLINED SIDE WALL WHICH INCLINES INWARDLY FROM THE BOTTOM TOWARDS THETOP, SAID CONTAINER HAVING AN EXTERNALLY THREADED NECK, A CAP HAVINGINTERNAL THREADS FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID NECK, SAID CAP HAVING ACENTRAL OPENING, AN APPLICATOR HAVING AN ANNULAR FLANGE RESTING ON SAIDNECK WITH THE HANDLE OF THE APPLICATOR EXTENDING THROUGH SAID CAPOPENING, SAID APPLICATOR HAVING A BRUSH AT THE LOWER END EXTENDINGSUBSTANTIALLY TO THE BOTTOM OF SAID CONTAINER, SAID SUPPORTING BASEHAVING MEANS PERMANENTLY SUPPORTING SAID CONTAINER AT A FIXED INCLINEDANGLE SO THAT THE PRECIPITATION OF THE LIQUID IN THE CONTAINER ISPOSITIONED TO ONE SIDE OF THE BRUSH SO THAT SAID BRUSH DOES NOT COME INCONTACT WITH THE PRECIPITATION, SAID ANNULAR BASE HAVING AN ANNULARBOTTOM WALL AND AN UPWARDLY EXTENDING ANNULAR WALL WHICH IS INCLINED TOSLOPE INWARDLY ON ONE SIDE AND INCLINED TO SLOPE OUTWARDLY ON THEOPPOSITE SIDE AND GRADUALLY INCREASES IN HEIGHT ON THE OUTWARDLYEXTENDING SLOPING SIDE, WITH THE INWARDLY SLOPING SIDE TERMINATING JUSTABOVE THE BOTTOM WALL AND THE OPPOSITE OUTWARDLY SLOPING SIDETERMINATING A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE ABOVE THE BOTTOM WALL.